16 Signs You Might Be Hypothyroid & 10 Tips To Help

Functional medicine physician Dr. Jill Carnahan shares the top 16 symptoms of hypothyroid and 10 tips to help. It’s a pleasure to include Jill at Hypothyroid Mom.

Written by Jill C. Carnahan, MD, ABFM, ABIHM, IFMCP

Your thyroid plays a part in nearly every metabolic process and when the thyroid isn’t working you won’t feel well! This small gland has an average weight of 16.4 grams in the adult. Shaped like a butterfly, it lies low on the front of the neck and below your Adam’s apple and in front of the windpipe. When the thyroid is its normal size, you can’t even feel it.

The thyroid secretes several hormones, collectively called thyroid hormones. The main hormone is thyroxine, also called T4, but there are others, including T3 and even lesser known T1 and T2. It requires adequate selenium, iodine, zinc, B vitamins and antioxidants for optimal function. Thyroid hormones act throughout the body, influencing metabolism, growth and development, and body temperature. During infancy and childhood, adequate thyroid hormone is crucial for brain development. Unfortunately, the thyroid gland is uniquely sensitive to drugs and environmental chemicals which may affect proper function.

More than 10 percent of the general population in the United States, and 20 percent of women over the age of 60, have subclinical hypothyroidism. But only a small percentage of these people are being treated. It is important to ask your doctor to check you thyroid function if you feel that you are having symptoms.

Often, at first, you barely notice the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue and weight gain. You might simply attribute them to getting older. But as your metabolism continues to slow, you may develop more obvious signs and symptoms.

____ I frequently require more than 8 hours of sleep at night
____ I feel better if I am able to take an afternoon nap every day
____ I am unable to tolerate exercise
____ I have less stamina or energy than others
____ My hair is coarse and dry, breaking, brittle, falling out
____ My skin is coarse, dry, scaly, thin
____ My eyebrows are thinning, especially the outer 1/3
____ I frequently struggle with constipation or hard stools
____ I am always colder than others around me
____ I typically wear a sweater, even in the summer
____ I am having more breakouts or acne
____ I have pains, aches in joints, hands and feet
____ I experience numbness or tingling in my hands & fingers
____ I am having irregular periods (women)
____ I am having trouble maintaining erection (men)
____ I am having trouble conceiving a baby
____ I have had one or more miscarriages
____ I feel depressed most of the time
____ I feel restless, or anxious
____ I have puffiness and swelling around the eyes and face
____ My moods change easily
____ I have difficulty concentrating or focusing
____ I have more feelings of sadness
____ I seem to be losing interest in normal daily activities
____ I’m more forgetful lately
____ My hair is falling out
____ I can’t seem to remember things
____ I have no sex drive
____ I am getting more frequent infections, that last longer
____ My eyes feel gritty and dry
____ My eyes feel sensitive to light
____ I am having difficulty swallowing or feeling a lump in my throat
____ I have a hoarse or gravely voice
____ I have tinnitus (ringing in ears)
____ I feel some lightheadedness or dizziness
____ I have severe menstrual cramps

Other conditions that may be associated with thyroid dysfunction

Infertility or frequent miscarriage

Acne

High cholesterol

Irregular periods

Low libido

Fluid retention

Difficulty swallowing

Respiratory difficulties

Iron-deficiency

Glaucoma

Frequent headaches

Family history that suggests you could have a higher risk for hypothyroidism

10 tips to support a healthy thyroid

Always consult with your healthcare practitioner before using supplements included at Hypothyroid Mom.

Eliminate gluten from your diet! One in three patient’s with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are sensitive to gluten.

Selenium is essential to a healthy thyroid and the first thing I recommend for those with autoimmune thyroiditis or Hashimoto’s. Get 200mcg of selenium in this supplement by Pure Encapsulations.

Wild caught fish, like salmon, supply ample omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for optimal thyroid function. If you don’t eat fish frequently, you can supplement with a high quality Omega3 supplement, like Thorne Research Omega Plus 2-3 caps daily.

Get plenty of sunlight to optimize your vitamin D levels and take 1000-2000IU daily of Vitamin D3, like Thorne Research D-1,000.

Herbs that support thyroid function include ashwaganda, eleuthero and other adrenal adaptogens. One of my favorite formulas is Gaia Herbs Thyroid Support.

Dandelion greens, carrots, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, collard greens, and sweet potatoes are all rich sources of essential Vitamin A. I feel that goitrogens in moderation or sauteed, cooked or steamed are not a problem. The only caution is those who are using raw greens in large quantities for smoothies or juices, which can be a problem. There are so many benefits to these foods that, even in the case of hypothyroid, I would not recommend avoiding them entirely.

Use organic coconut oil in your cooking — it’s great for high heat cooking and sautéing many different meats and vegetables.

Filter your drinking water from chlorine and other harmful chemicals which suppress the thyroid and block iodine. I recommend the Berkey Water Filtration System for the VERY cleanest water money can buy! It’s portable, too!

Find daily ways to detox, like using an infrared sauna. Check that the sauna has been tested to ensure it emits low levels of EMF (electromagnetic fields) such as the saunas by Sunlighten. Other ways to help your body detoxify from chemical exposures (petrochemicals, PCBs, pesticides, and mercury) include taking epsom salt bathsand adding chlorella, parsley, or cilantro to your daily smoothie.

Environmental toxins may be poisoning your thyroid

Many environmental factors have the potential to impact thyroid function. Some of these factors include:

Potassium perchlorate, which inhibits iodine uptake by the thyroid, is used in rocket propellant, fireworks, and automobile airbags. Potassium perchlorate is stable in the environment and contaminates water throughout the United States. Newborns and infants are most susceptible to this inhibitory effect on iodine transport. The thiocyanates in cigarette smoke can have effects similar to potassium perchlorate.

Isoflavones (phytoestrogens), found in soy proteins, are thyroid peroxidase inhibitors.

Pesticides induce glucuronidation of T4 and reduce T4 half-life.

Polychlorinated biphenyls are industrial chemicals that were banned in 1975 but still are routinely detected in the environment. They have been shown to reduce T4 levels in animals and are neurotoxic. Their effect varies because of partial agonist effect at the thyroid hormone receptor and their varied chemical structure.

Bisphenol A—used in plastics, as resins for coating food cans, and as dental sealants—antagonizes T3 activation of the thyroid hormone b-receptor in rats, causing a thyroid hormone resistance–like syndrome.

Keep your home free from these and other toxic chemicals.

A prescription for hypothyroid

If you are truly hypothyroid, no amount of nutritional supplementation will replace your abnormally low levels of thyroid hormone. Ask your doctor to do comprehensive thyroid lab testing including: TSH, free T4, free T3, total T4, total T3, reverse T3, thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOs), and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb). An ultrasound to evaluate the appearance of the thyroid is necessary if you are experiencing symptoms of enlarged thyroid or nodules.

Common drug options for thyroid replacement include:

T4 preparations
Synthroid
Levoxyl
levothyroxine
Tirosint

T4/T3 preparations
Nature-Throid
Armour
WP Thyroid
ERFA Thyroid

T3 only preparations
Cytomel

About Jill Carnahan, MD, ABFM, ABIHM, IFMCP

Dr. Jill Carnahan uses functional medicine to help you find answers to the cause of your illness and the nutritional and biochemical imbalances that may be making you feel ill. Functional medicine is personalized medicine that deals with root cause of disease instead of just treating symptoms. Dr. Jill will search for underlying triggers that are contributing to your illness through cutting edge lab testing and tailor the intervention to your specific needs as an individual. Dr. Carnahan’s office Flatiron Functional Medicine is located in Boulder, Colorado.

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Dana Trentini M.A., Ed.M., founded Hypothyroid Mom October 2012 in memory of the unborn baby she lost to hypothyroidism. This is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for consulting your physician regarding medical advice pertaining to your health. Hypothyroid Mom includes affiliate links including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Connect with Dana on Google+

Comments

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimotos about 3 1/2 years ago at the age of 43. I’ve only ever been given levothyroxine, with dosage being increased every 6 months to what i currently take now at 125mg. It seems as though my health just keeps getting worse every day. I’m depressed over the weight gain, fatigue, and continuous chronic pain. I’ve turned into a hermit because i rarely leave my house except for grocery shopping and Dr appointmen ts. I so desperately want to feel better, have the energy to play with my grandchildren, and even go out to eat with my family without feeling like I’m going to have a panic attack. Can someone please provide some advice on something i can do to begin feeling better?

Help… my thyroid has been tested the last 6 years and numbers for down every year. It dropped 5 full points in 8 months. The weight gain is killing me and my tendons. They first said lupus then meds for 6 months and poof no lupus. Still smh. But my levels are .66 and lower. I feel so bad all the time. And I scared of meds. I need to know he right ones that will give me my energy back and remove this weight. Fast…..

Just after a bit of advice really. I recently had a blood screening as part of a wellness check and it picked up that my TSH was high, my T4 was low and my triglycerides were high (really unusual as I eat a very healthy diet!). I found this out when I saw a doctor, prior to my blood result appointment, because I felt soooo ill with what I thought were early menopause symptoms – weight gain, hair loss, massive fatigue (I honestly struggle keeping my eyes open at times when I’m at work!) headaches, dizziness, tingling hands, joint ache etc. I’ve also thought for years that I’m starting with early onset of dementia as my brain goes so slowly at times and I struggle to remember the most simple words! Since the doctor told me about my blood levels and I’ve researched hypothyroidism everything has fallen into place and I think I’ve suffered for a lot longer than I initially thought. I know this seems wrong but I feel relieved that there’s something actually wrong and I’m not totally broken – I’ve just turned 40 and thought I was ready for the knackers yard! I have two young children and it was a depressing thought that I might feel like this forever and never have the energy to play with them. My husband has been wonderful and has been so patient with me – honestly, I’ve been a cow at times when all I want to do is lay down, have a nap or go to bed early. It can’t have been much fun for the kids either and I know I’ve snapped at them. I still feel so rotten and have been told I need to wait 4-6 weeks for a further blood test to double check the readings. I just want to feel normal again 🙁 surely the current readings and symptoms indicate a problem! I know it won’t be a quick fix but knowing help is potentially on the horizon is now really frustrating.

Hi BBC, This is Dana Trentini from Hypothyroid Mom. There is much controversy over cruciferous vegetables for thyroid health. The issue is high doses of raw goitrogens in particular. I had one woman contact me who was drinking 2 shakes a day full of raw kale and noticed her symptoms worsened and that was a high dose. I personally eat cruciferous vegetables for their many benefits but I watch my dose and whenever possible cook them to reduce the goitrogenic effect. I hope that helps.

How long should you wait after taking anabiotic’s and Cortizone or steroid pack and shot for hives before i get blood work to test for thyroid levels
I am on antibiotics now for a terrible sinus infection how long should I wait to get blood work

I have been having problems for a long time.Low Libido,constipation,Tiredness,and many more symptoms.Dr just put me on levothyroxine low dose for 3 months and then will do blood tests and go from there.Does anyone know how long it will take to notice a difference and is this medication for life?

HI, 3 years ago i went trough a radiation treatment around my neck because of oral cancer.
My THC was mildly elevated since then, but i felt tired always, not long ago my joints started hurting, burning everywhere in my body, sometimes my toes, hips, knees, alternating.Does anyone experienced these symptoms?
I took Synthroid for a month, only 25 mcg, it helped with the tiredness but not with joint pain.
How long you have taken Synthroid before you see any changes in your condition?

Hi I am on 15 mg of Armour last time I had my thyroid checked it was either around a 6 or 7. Lately I have been feeling really tired today I felt like I was going to have a panic attack at work. Feel weak and not into it. I stopped my Zoloft because that gave me issues plus my muscles hurt all over and my right hand the carpal tunnel feels worse in that hand do you think I should raise my Armour to another 15 feeling like I have heart burn too in my chest

I’m hypothyroid, diagnosed in 2005, from my first dose of synthroid I became hyper. I was hyper, hypo for years. Then last year Graves symptoms with eyes and all. Been off meds since then. Now mildly hypo, but, if I try taking thyroid meds, any brand I get hyper. So, my Endo doctor says stay off the meds. I live with mild hypo. My T3 is normal range. I wish I could regulate this, but the only way they say is thyroidectomy. My Endo says she would not recommend because if I do not tolerate the meds I’ll die. I am doing all natural stuff, juicing, natural gluten free diet. Still not back to in range.